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I've been thinking about getting into Warmachine/Hordes with a friend or two for a while now. We've both got our eyes on an army solely based on the looks of the models but we can't settle on Warmachine or Hordes. I know that the games can be played together, but how do they differ? Is there a difference between a Hordes/Hordes or Warmachine/Warmachine game compared to a Hordes/Warmachine game?

I just don't want us to pick up armies from the different games and then realize that we're missing out on something always playing Warmachine/Hordes instead of sticking to just one.

Thanks for any help!

in general:

warmachine plays better in the long term (more turns)
hordes is more aggressive and likes getting it done quick

warmachine casters get stronger as their warjacks die, since they can use their focus on themselves better in the late game game to cast more spells and get more attacks

hordes warlocks get weaker as their beasts die since they rely on their beasts for fury to fuel their spells and attacks.

basiclly, warmachine is more attrition, hordes is more aggressive.

Svenn wrote:I've been thinking about getting into Warmachine/Hordes with a friend or two for a while now. We've both got our eyes on an army solely based on the looks of the models but we can't settle on Warmachine or Hordes. I know that the games can be played together, but how do they differ? Is there a difference between a Hordes/Hordes or Warmachine/Warmachine game compared to a Hordes/Warmachine game?

I just don't want us to pick up armies from the different games and then realize that we're missing out on something always playing Warmachine/Hordes instead of sticking to just one.

Thanks for any help!

The two games are completely compatible. There are subtle game mechanic differences between the game, but overall the game systems are balanced. Both WM and H are allowed in official tournaments, so neither game will ever feel left out. A lot of people say that "Hordes are more powerful", but WM wins all the major tournies... Go figure. If you want to choose based on models, then go ahead and get whatever you think looks awesome. It's a great game system, so you can't really go wrong either way.

Hordes does generally have an early game advantage, as War Beasts excel at the alpha strike. Of course, after doing so things start to fall apart, and when your beasts start dying you begin lose your ability to cast spells. In high end tournaments where players are good enough not to leave openings, and games tend to last three or four turns, this tends to give Warmachine a slight advantage IMO.

Of course, the early game blitzes that Hordes can pull off (Molik Meat Missile, anyone?) can and will paste unprepared opponents startlingly well.

Thanks guys, this helps. I'll probably end up going Skorne while my friend is going I think Cygnar or Cryx. Although, I really want some of those Warmachine pirates models.

Well, looks like that was settled pretty easy... I just won a signed copy of the Hordes Mk II book from WarmongerGameDay.com.

Svenn wrote:Thanks guys, this helps. I'll probably end up going Skorne while my friend is going I think Cygnar or Cryx. Although, I really want some of those Warmachine pirates models.

Ahh, sweet. Another Skorne player. Probably one of the rarest factions in both WM/H. Although I am by no means an "expert", Skorne's been my main army for awhile now. So feel free to ask me any questions related to the "one faction that will rule/subjugate/conquer them all".

Salisar wrote:

Svenn wrote:Thanks guys, this helps. I'll probably end up going Skorne while my friend is going I think Cygnar or Cryx. Although, I really want some of those Warmachine pirates models.

Ahh, sweet. Another Skorne player. Probably one of the rarest factions in both WM/H. Although I am by no means an "expert", Skorne's been my main army for awhile now. So feel free to ask me any questions related to the "one faction that will rule/subjugate/conquer them all".

Oooh, nice. I prefer playing the lesser played stuff, regardless of how powerful it is. I hate fielding an army of the most common stuff. Booooring.

I'm surprised that Skorne aren't so popular though... they have the best looking models by far, and Trollbloods just look boring. Legion looks okay but also pretty boring.

Well the popularity is depending on the local meta, I heard that at the GenCon Skorne was the most popular Hordes faction. Also the recent league result indicate that fair amount of people play them. They do have the best looking figs though, Titans are one of the best concepts PP has come up with.

The most noteable difference bettween War Machines and Hordes is that in Warmachine you have focuse, in Hordes you have Rage. The terms and factions are different but they are compatable games. Pick which you enjoy the most.

Wasn't it fury and not rage?

i thought their application were different too

Retrias wrote:Wasn't it fury and not rage?

i thought their application were different too

It is fury and the application is different, focus has to be given to a jack fury is placed on a warbeast. Warcasters have to give their focus to jacks to get them to do all the good stuff, boosting, charging etc, warbeasts basically get to choose the amount of fury on themselves each turn up to their fury stat.
So a very beast heavy hordes army has tons of fury available on any given turn, the downside is once a beast is full he can no longer be used as a transfer target. Also any fury left on your beasts at the beginning of your next turn cause you to make threshold checks, if you fail these checks you lose control of the beast and it frenzies.
Frenzied warbeasts attack the nearest model 1 time with boosted to hit and damage rolls, not to shabby if it is in combat with your opponents guys but it really sucks when they start killing your own stuff.
Take the titan as an example, titan frenzies and must make a slam attack if possible. If it can't do that all it will do is walk 4 inches at the nearest enemy model, leaving you with a fairly expensive beast that does nothing for the whole turn. And often leaves itself in a bad situation.

Hope this helps, good luck.

They are both good in their own ways :p..

Pick the one you like the most and go with it.

I am going to play warmachines but am also interested in playing hordes what is the major difference between the two of them? Also i would go skrone in hordes

...Read the thread.

The only real difference is focus vs fury. Other wise the systems use the same core rules.